How Beijing could hurt us

BEIJING has given little indication yet of what form the reprisals might take.

But recent diplomatic rows with the US and Australia suggest it has a number of possible tactics at its disposal.

Australia has felt Beijing’s wrath this year after banning Huawei from its own 5G network. In May, China imposed an 80 per cent, five-year tariff on Australian barley, claiming it was being sold at below its true market value. It also put tariffs and import bans on Australian beef.

Beijing is also thought to have been behind a string of sophisticated cyber-attacks launched against Australia this year.

Security sources in Britain said it was unclear whether China would retaliate with a cyberattack against the UK Government but said GCHQ’s protective signals intelligence network is ‘ready’ to detect and disrupt any attempt.

Beijing may choose to take a tougher stance on post-Brexit trade talks. This could escalate into a full-blown trade war with major British exports, such as luxury cars, caught in the crossfire.

UK firms in China, such as Burberry and Land Rover, as well as technology firms and universities, could become mired in bureaucracy. Beijing could also clamp down on higher education, which attracts thousands of Chinese students to study in the UK each year.